2020 VERMONT BLACK BEAR SEASONS - Vermont Fish and ...
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2020 VERMONT BLACK BEAR
SEASONS
2020 BEAR SEASONS
Vermont’s bear population, less than 1,500 fifty
years ago, is now at approximately 4,500 – a
successful, planned result of hunting regulation
changes. The 2020-2030 Big Game Management Plan
population objective is 3,500-5,500 bears. Incidents
of bear damage and bear-human interactions have
increased, especially in areas where few bears
existed earlier. The ‘early season’ bear hunting
regulation changes are intended to help stabilize the
bear population while providing the Fish & Wildlife
Department with information that is important in
improving Vermont’s bear management program.
EARLY SEASON: September 1, 2020 through
November 13, 2020.
Requires a separate early season bear tag – residents
$5, nonresidents $15.
LATE SEASON: November 14, 2020 through
November 22, 2020.
The “late season” bear tag is included on each hunting
license except the nonresident small game license.
The additional tag will enable the department to
HUNTING HOURS: Hunting hours are one-half gather essential information about hunter effort and
hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. success, as well as an idea of overall bear hunter
numbers. The early season tag gives department
LIMIT: The annual limit for bears has not changed. A biologists a better understanding of how many
hunter may harvest only one bear per calendar year. hunters are actively pursuing bears before the
November rifle season.
LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
Hunters who hunt with a permanent license
There is a separate “early season bear tag” required (licenses for resident hunters 66 and older) do not
for those hunters who want to hunt bear prior to the need to buy an early season bear tag no matter when
beginning of the November deer rifle season. It costs their license was bought, and they will not be
$5 for residents and $15 for nonresidents. Hunters charged for an early season bear tag. Their tag is
will continue to get a “late season” bear tag along valid for both early and late bear seasons every year
with their deer tag on their general hunting license in perpetuity.
at no additional cost, which is valid during the first
nine days of the November deer rifle season.
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department www.vtfishandwildlife.com Page 1 of 9
Hunters who purchased a lifetime license before part of Vermont’s scientific bear management
January 1, 2013 also do not need to buy an early program. A pre-molar tooth is now required by
season bear tag. Their tag is valid for both early and regulation to be submitted by the hunter from every
late bear seasons every year in perpetuity. This bear harvested in Vermont.
includes hunters whose license was purchased
before 2013 but whose license will not be activated A person who takes a bear shall collect a premolar
until they take a hunter’s education course, such as tooth from the bear and submit it to a game warden,
a license purchased for a young child. official Fish & Wildlife Department Reporting
Station, or to a person designated by the
However, hunters who purchased a lifetime license commissioner to receive it within 30 days of taking
on or after January 1, 2013 must purchase an early the bear.
season bear tag to hunt bear prior to the November
deer rifle season. No bear carcass shall be transported out of state
without first being reported.
A bear hunter using a bow or crossbow must have
either a bow license or a certificate showing A hunter must take a warden to the kill site of a bear
completion of the bow hunter education course in if requested to do so by a warden.
addition to a hunting license.
Bears must be field dressed prior to reporting.
Purchase a License Hunting Black Bear
Removing the bear’s pre-molar tooth is easy and does
Online FAQs
not affect the mounting quality of the bear. Please ask
the reporting station operator for a white bear tooth
LIFETIME AND PERMANENT LICENSE RENEWAL envelope so you can remove the tooth and seal it in
the envelope and deposit it in the green tooth bucket
If you intend to hunt, fish, or trap in 2020, you must
at any reporting station. Remember to clearly print
update your lifetime, permanent disability, or
your name and Conservation ID number on the
permanent license regardless of whether or not
envelope. If you don’t put it in the reporting station
you used your tags. This is a statutory requirement
bucket, you must give it to a warden within 30 days.
which was put in place to allow the department to
Every tooth we receive from hunters helps the bear
collect accurate harvest and licensing information
project.
for lifetime license holders.
This updated license will include current year tags.
You may update your license at no cost on-line at our
website. If you are unable to go on-line, you may go
to any authorized license agent or Fish & Wildlife
Office and request to have your license updated. You
can also call us at 802-828-1190 to be updated. A
license agent may charge you up to $1.50 for a reprint.
Update a Permanent License The age of your bear will be available on the
department’s website in the spring after it is
returned from the lab.
BEAR TOOTH COLLECTION IS REQUIRED
The Fish & Wildlife Department needs your Bear Tooth Removal Check the Ages of Black
help. Knowing the age of the bears that are Instruction Video Bears You’ve Harvested
harvested by hunters is a very important
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department www.vtfishandwildlife.com Page 2 of 9
PRE-HUNT PLANNING help it be a positive experience by emphasizing
ethics and making a clean kill.
Bear hunting is a physically demanding activity,
especially removing a harvested bear from the To be ethical, all hunters need to be proficient with
woods. Pre-hunt planning is very important to a their firearm or bow, understand their personal
successful and rewarding bear hunting experience. effective range, and have an understanding of basic
bear anatomy for lethal shot placement. This will
Long before harvesting a bear, the hunter must help lead to a quick and effective kill and minimize
decide how the meat will be processed and how the the chance for wounding the bear.
hide will be used. Hunters should arrange to have
help available for all aspects of handling a harvested Planning the Shot. The following are some general
bear and have plans made ahead of time to ensure tips to help ensure correct shot placement:
that the meat and hide are properly processed.
Hunters must understand that bears are built
Bears have a tremendous amount of fat and a thick differently than deer and other big game
hide that provide great insulation. Both the meat animals. The chest of a bear is compressed
and the hide can spoil quickly especially at compared to that of a deer when looking at it
temperatures above freezing. A dead bear can be from the side.
large and cumbersome. Skinning, processing, and If you make a poor shot, a wounded bear can run
transporting a bear can be a difficult task and may for considerable distances before dying. Heavy
be physically demanding without assistance. bones, hides, and fat layers may prevent quick-
clotting blood from dripping and leaving a good
As a result, it is imperative that the hide be removed trail, making an injured bear hard to track.
as soon as possible to prevent meat spoilage. In
temperatures above freezing, if there is going to be a KNOW YOUR CAPABILITIES AND KNOW
delay in getting your harvested bear to a cooler, you YOUR SHOT!
should consider quartering it to allow the heavier A bear’s most vital area is an 8” circle behind the
portions to cool more quickly. To help with the front shoulder.
cooling process pack bags of ice in the body cavity or
The best shot opportunity is a broadside shot or
around the quarters. You may dismember the carcass
“quartering away” for penetration into the vital
to pack it out of the place of kill as long as the identity
organs.
of the sex is not destroyed.
To take your shot, wait for the bear to step
Know Your Capabilities. To help ensure the future of forward with the near side leg exposing the
bear hunting, and all hunting, it is important to instill heart/lung area.
respect for the outdoors and acceptable hunting ethics
Shots directly in the shoulder bone are not
for all hunters. Making a clean kill as humanely as
recommended. Bears have massive, muscular
possible is a fundamental component of ethical
shoulders and heavy bones. A hunter who
hunting. Incorrect shot placement on a black bear can
shoots ahead of the front shoulder may miss or
lead to unnecessary suffering, wounding, and failure to
injure the animal.
retrieve the animal.
A head shot is not recommended since a bear
Making a clean kill should be the top priority for skull is very dense. The blunt, rounded shape
hunters who decide to shoot a bear. An animal that may cause bullets or arrows to glance off or
is harvested humanely shows more character in a become lodged in the skull without penetrating.
hunter than just a lucky shot. Especially if you are
Frontal shots or shots from directly overhead
taking a youth or apprentice hunter bear hunting,
(like might occur from a tree stand) are not
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department www.vtfishandwildlife.com Page 3 of 9
recommended because they offer little CROSSBOWS
opportunity for penetration of the vital organs
(especially with archery equipment). A crossbow may be used as a means of take by any
person during any hunting season that permits the
NEVER take a shot you are unsure of, at a bear
use of bow and arrow.
that is not clearly visible, or one that is
positioned in such a way that you cannot cleanly Unless otherwise provided, any game which may be
hit the vital area. taken by shooting may be taken by use of bow and
The National Bowhunter Education Foundation has arrow or crossbow.
created an excellent document called Advanced Black
Bear Anatomy and Shot Placement Guide for both archery All arrows, including crossbow arrows, must have
and firearm hunters (including muzzleloaders); the an arrowhead of at least 7/8 of an inch wide and at
following photos have been adapted from the NBEF least two cutting sides.
publication.
A crossbow may not be transported cocked in a
motor vehicle.
Any person wishing to hunt turkey, bear, or deer
with a bow and arrow or crossbow must hold proof
of having held an archery license or a certificate of
satisfactory completion of a bowhunter education
course from Vermont or another state or province in
Canada.
Hunter Education
CROSSBOW SAFETY
Keep these tips in mind when using a crossbow to
ensure a safe and enjoyable hunt.
USING A CROSSBOW:
Keep the string waxed and lubricate the rail
Best shot placement for gun or bow. periodically.
Make sure your fingers are well away (below
rail) from the path of the string and cables.
Never dry-fire a crossbow.
Make sure the limbs are free of obstructions
before firing; be particularly careful if you are
hunting from a ground blind.
Never use a cocking device to uncock unless you
Shoulder and leg bones protect the heart and lungs when have a model that is specifically designed to do
the near front leg is behind during stride. Wait until the so. Most are not.
near front leg is in front or ahead during stride.
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department www.vtfishandwildlife.com Page 4 of 9
To uncock, shoot a specially-designed unloading TAGGING BEAR
point or a field tip into soft ground; or shoot a
field tip into a target. Bear must be tagged immediately when taken. The
tag must be placed on the carcass open to view and
Practice often and avoid shots at game that are remain there until the carcass is cut up for
beyond your effective range, generally less than consumption.
40 yards.
OPTIONAL VERMONT BIG GAME TAG
TREE STANDS AND CROSSBOWS:
Optional Vermont Big Game
Always cock the crossbow without a bolt on the
Tags are available free from
ground before climbing into the stand.
license agents as durable
Once seated and secured, pull up your unloaded alternatives to the paper tags
crossbow with a haul line. on licenses. Optional tags
may be used to tag deer, bear,
Do not place bolt on the crossbow until you are turkeys, or moose. Record
safely secured in your stand. your CONSERVATION ID
number (top left corner of
ARCHERY HUNTING your license) on the Optional
Big Game Tag. A qualifying
In addition to a hunting license, a bear hunter using
landowner may use the tag
a bow or crossbow must have a previous or current
by writing “landowner” in
bow license or a certificate providing completion of
the same space.
a bow hunter education course.
PROHIBITIONS The existing paper tag that comes with a license may
also be used. Optional Big Game Tags may only be
An early season tag is required from September 1 used by a person who has purchased the appropriate
through the day before the first day of the license and tag for the species they are hunting.
November rifle deer.
REPORTING A BEAR
A hunter may take only one black bear in a
calendar year. A person taking bear shall within 48 hours report the
Bears may not be taken alive. taking and exhibit the carcass to the nearest game
warden, official Fish & Wildlife Department
Bears may not be trapped. Reporting Station, or to a person designated by the
Hunters may not use bait or a baited area to take commissioner to receive the reports.
a bear. A “baited area” is defined as an area
where any animal, vegetable, fruit, mineral It is now mandatory that the hunter provide a pre-
matter, honey, or other substance capable of molar tooth from the bear. Tooth envelopes for
luring or attracting bear has been placed or bear are white in color and are available at all
deposited. check stations as well as green buckets for the
envelopes that contain teeth. No bear carcass shall
It is illegal to shoot a bear that is visiting a bird be transported out of state without first being
feeder. reported.
It is illegal to feed bears, even when not hunting
A hunter must take a warden to the kill site of a bear
for them.
if requested to do so by a warden.
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department www.vtfishandwildlife.com Page 5 of 9
Bears must be field dressed prior to reporting. Non-resident bear hound hunters may not hunt in
Vermont until September 15th.
It is also legal to skin the bear and cut it up in order
to carry it out of the woods. Although the bear must Additional changes to Vermont’s bear hound
be reported within 48 hours, Fish & Wildlife urges hunting laws have been made and will be included
doing so quickly to cool the meat. with information provided in a bear hound hunter’s
permit.
Big Game Reporting Stations
Bear-Dog Permit Bear-Dog Permit
TRANSPORTING Application Form Application Form
(Resident) (Non-Resident)
A tagged bear may be transported only during the
open season and for 20 days thereafter. Bear Management Rule
USE OF DOGS TO HUNT BEAR RESEARCH PROJECT STUDY BEARS
Any person hunting, pursuing, harvesting, or in any Hunters in the towns of Readsboro, Searsburg,
manner involved in the taking of a black bear with the Woodford, Stamford, Pownal, and Whitingham
use of dogs must hold a Vermont Big Game Hunting may encounter bears wearing radio collars or yellow
License, use only Department Registered Dogs and plastic ear tags. These marked bears are an
have purchased a valid bear tag. In addition, the important part of the Deerfield Wind Project Study.
person hunting, pursuing, harvesting, or in any It is not illegal to take a collared bear; however, if
manner involved in the taking of a black bear with the a bear wearing a collar is harvested, it is crucial that
use of dogs must hold a valid bear dog permit or the collar be turned in to the Fish & Wildlife
accompany a bear dog permit holder. The permit shall Department (802-289-0613) so data can be retrieved
be carried at all times by the permittee while hunting from it. If a bear is harvested and has ear tags, then
with dogs or taking black bear and exhibited to a game the numbers on the ear tags should also be reported.
warden, landowner, or law enforcement officer upon
demand. Green Mountain National Forest Bear Study
FAQs
PERMIT REQUIRED: Hunters may use dogs to take
bear only when the person in control of the dogs has a BEAR HUNTING SAFETY TIPS
bear-dog permit available from the Vermont Fish &
Wildlife Department. The permit is required to pursue Although wearing fluorescent orange clothing is not
black bear with the aid of dogs for training purposes mandatory for hunting in Vermont, hunters and
or for hunting and taking a bear. It is unlawful to shoot others are urged to wear a fluorescent orange vest
a bear that was pursued by dogs without a permit. and hat while in the woods. Use caution in
Non-residents possessing a hound permit can only identifying your target as anyone hunting deer
train their dogs in Vermont during the time period during archery season, waterfowl, or turkeys will
when the training season is open in their home state. normally wear camouflage clothing.
A person shall not advertise, barter, exchange goods DON’T SHOOT SOWS WITH CUBS
or services, expose or otherwise sell the use of a dog
or dogs for the purpose of taking black bear. It is Bears are normally solitary animals and any groups
unlawful to take a bear that is being pursued by of bears seen in the autumn are most likely females
hounds if you are not a permit or sub-permit holder. and their young. The department recommends not
shooting sows accompanied by cubs or a bear that is
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department www.vtfishandwildlife.com Page 6 of 9part of a group of bears as bears seen together in the Perhaps the crown jewel of hunting in Vermont is the
fall are most likely a female accompanied by her state’s system of 99 Wildlife Management Areas, or
cubs. WMAs. All WMAs are open to hunting, trapping,
fishing and other wildlife related outdoor activities.
SALE OR PURCHASE OF GAME
Information about shooting ranges is available on our
BIG GAME: The only time it is legal to buy or sell website:
big game or the meat of big game within the state is
during the open season and for 20 days after the Vermont Dept. of
Wildlife Management
season ends. The meat of big game animals is not to Forests, Parks &
Areas
be bought or sold to be transported out of the state. Recreation
It is illegal to buy or sell anadromous Atlantic
Silvio O. Conte
salmon taken in the Connecticut River Basin and/or Missisquoi National
National Fish &
to buy or sell wild turkey at any time. Wildlife Refuge
Wildlife Refuge
Other than the meat mentioned above, a person may Green Mountain Vermont Shooting
buy or sell at any time: National Forest Ranges
Hammond Cove West Mountain
The head, hide, and hoofs of legally taken deer
Shooting Range Shooting Range
or moose; or
The head, hide, paws, and internal organs of a 2019 BEAR HARVEST BY TOWN AND WMU
legally taken black bear.
BEAR PARTS: International trade in hides, claws,
skulls, or teeth of black bear is regulated by federal
law and international treaty. If you plan to sell bear
hide or parts outside of the United States, you must
obtain an export permit (for a fee) from the Federal
Wildlife Permit Office, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service,
Office of Management Authority, 4401 N. Fairfax
Drive, Arlington, VA 22203, 1-800-358-2104. These
products must be shipped through one of eleven
designated ports (Boston is the nearest), or through
another port under special permit (for a fee) from
the same office. You do not need export permits and
declarations to sell to domestic or foreign buyers
within Vermont or the rest of the United States, or to
sell through brokers who possess the necessary
permits.
WHERE CAN I HUNT IN VERMONT?
Vermont has more than 800,000 acres of federal and
state public land open to hunting: National Wildlife
Refuges, the Green Mountain National Forest, and 2019 Black Bear Harvest Report
all state forests. State Parks are open to hunting
outside the operating season.
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department www.vtfishandwildlife.com Page 7 of 9VERMONT HABITAT STAMP HUNT, POST, SHARE, LIKE
Monies raised from sales of Vermont Habitat
Vermont Fish & Wildlife suggests the following tips
Stamps go to the Species and Habitat Conservation
to accurately reflect a positive hunting experience in
Fund, which is used to purchase and maintain
social media.
Wildlife Management Areas.
Display respect for the animal in its life and in its
Projects Supported by the Fund Include:
death. Ask yourself if your non-hunting friends
Purchase lands for Wildlife Management Areas would view the photo as respectful of this
animal’s life.
Improve public access to land for fish and
wildlife-based activities such as bird-watching, Make sure the animal looks its best. Place the
hunting, fishing, enjoying wildlife or simply tongue back in mouth and try to minimize blood
connecting with nature in the photo to instead focus on the beauty of the
animal. Try to take a photo of a successful hunt
Protect and improve wetlands in the animal’s natural habitat. Blue sky, forest,
Protect and restore state-owned riparian stream and mountains place hunting in the context of its
banks natural surroundings.
Protect and enhance deer wintering areas Don’t just post ‘grab and grin’ photos after a
successful hunt. Show all the aspects of the hunt
Implement habitat enhancement for turkeys,
to give people a more complete picture of what
bears, deer, songbirds, bats, moose, aquatic
hunting means to you. Post photos of a silent
organisms, and all of Vermont’s native wildlife
snowy forest or quality time spent outdoors with
Use our online donation form. friends and family.
Hunting and Fishing License Purchase: Donate Include posts from after the hunt too. A photo of
when purchasing a hunting or fishing license by you enjoying a plate of tasty venison with
simply including your contribution when friends and family will help people make the
applying. connection that wild meat is a healthy, local,
When you purchase a Vermont Habitat Stamp, you help sustainable food source.
improve wildlife habitat and open land for outdoor recreation.
If you see friends posting unethical behavior,
don’t be afraid to speak up. Please forward any
posts that include illegal activity to the Vermont
Fish & Wildlife’s Facebook page so our wardens
can look into it.
If done properly, social media can be a great
Please note: A stamp is not required to hunt, fish or trap, nor opportunity to show non-hunters why you are
do you have to buy a sporting license to donate for a stamp. passionate about hunting and to inspire conservation
and spark interest.
Vermont Habitat Stamp Online Donation Form
HUNTERS, TICKS AND LYME DISEASE
Lyme disease has started to become more prevalent in
Vermont during the last 10 years. Ticks that cause Lyme
disease are still active in the fall in Vermont so hunters
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department www.vtfishandwildlife.com Page 8 of 9that spend time in tall grass, weed, and brushes, along Bear Sausage Shepherd’s Pie
with successful hunters handling a deer, should follow Ingredients Directions
a few simple tick-repelling precautions. 1½ lbs. bear sausage 1. Brown bear sausage with
(or bear burger if chopped onion and garlic
Treat your clothing and gear with permethrin before no sausage powder until cooked well.
you hunt, making sure to follow the product available) 2. Add cream of mushroom
instructions. Tuck your pants into your socks or boots 1 medium chopped soup (undiluted) and place
onion in bottom of sprayed 13x9
to keep ticks from crawling up your legs. After
½ tsp. garlic powder baking pan.
returning from the hunt, check all over your body for 1 can of cream of 3. Add a can of cream-style
ticks including your hair, and shower immediately. mushroom soup corn and a can of niblet corn
1 can cream-style over top of the meat
Successful hunters handling a deer should remain corn mixture.
vigilant for ticks even after they’ve returned from 1 can niblet corn 4. Spread mashed potatoes
the field. Place a pan of soapy water under a hanging 4 cups mashed over the top of the corn
deer to kill any ticks that fall off the deer. potatoes layer and top with melted
1 cup cheddar cheese, butter and cover with foil.
grated 5. Bake at 375° for 30 minutes
Butter, melted until bubbly then remove
foil and add grated cheddar
cheese over the top and
continue to bake for 20
minutes until cheese is
Preventing Ticks Among melted and browned.
Be Tick Smart From: Diana Spear
Hunters Factsheet
More Black Bear Recipes
RECIPES
Bear Roast HUNTERS SHARING THEIR BEAR
Ingredients Directions
5 lbs. bear roast 1. Place in a large crockpot Successful hunters willing to share their bear can do
2 cloves garlic, sliced which has been sprayed so by donating it directly to a food shelf or meal site.
thin with pan spray. Proper processing and labeling instructions are
1 large onion, 2. Add all the other available at www.vtfoodbank.org.
chopped ingredients and spray the
¼ cup Kikkoman’s top of the roast with pan
Teriyaki spray to seal in juices and
Marinade moisture.
1 large can cream of 3. Cook on low setting for 8-9
mushroom soup hours. Never cook bear
plus 1½ cans of meat on high. VERMONT FISH & WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT
water
1 National Life Drive, Davis 2
You can also use the same
ingredients minus a full can of Montpelier, VT 05620-3702
water in a browning oven bag
Phone: (802) 828-1000
which is coated with tbsp. flour.
Spray top of roast and seal bag www.vtfishandwildlife.com
with tie. Place in a pre-heated
oven at 275° for 5 hours or so as
www.facebook.com/vtfishandwildlife
needed.
From: Diana Spear 6/26/2020
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department www.vtfishandwildlife.com Page 9 of 9You can also read
